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"Sorry," Meredith said

Da "You tried But what’s the next step?"

"The next step is"If we can’t beat Jack by fighting hi his camp didn’t work out, we have to find Siobhan"

"But you’ve looked for her," Bonnie objected

Elena shook her head "Not hard enough I’ve been trying to pick up traces of her aura, and I’ to think she’s left town If Damon and I drive around the area, ht direction" She looked toward Zander, who had been hanging back, watching the that, can the Pack patrol Dalcrest and look out for vampires? Protect everybody?"

Zander nodded "We’ll do e can"

Inwardly, Matt sighed a little The Pack would patrol Elena and Damon would hunt for Siobhan Alaric, Bonnie, and Jasmine would search for a cure for Meredith’s vampirism It would have been nice if Matt, for once, was able to really help

But then Meredith looked up at him and smiled--a tiny, crooked sain, running her fingers over the bracelet A spark flared in Matt’s chest Maybe this time, it would all be okay in the end Maybe

Elena waited for everyone else to leave When the others had gone, Damon pushed himself away from the table and looked at Elena expectantly "Shall we hit the road?" he asked "Start the hunt for Siobhan?"

"You go on without et started" He nodded once and strode off without looking back, as sleek and graceful as a panther

Still Elena lingered, standing uncertainly by the counter as Alaric began to collect glasses and take the her head back fro dark hair spilling across her shoulders "You’re hovering"

"Walk me to the door," Elena said quietly She didn’t want Alaric to overhear what she was going to say Let it be Meredith’s choice first

Meredith arched one elegant eyebrow curiously and, for a ot up and followed Elena

Elena reing at you, the ever-present hunger But ita va she’d been raised to hunt and kill, would be the worst thing Meredith could iine The look of devastation on Meredith’s face, the way she pulled in on herself as if expecting a blow, hurt Elena to see

And yet…

It wasn’t all bad, was it? Elena didn’t like to think about the fact that, except for Da older and she… wasn’t They would becoet old They would die

But not Elena And not Meredith Not any to be thankful for?

"Here," Elena said softly She felt in her purse and drew out a half-full water bottle It felt the same as any other bottle of water in her hand, but the liquid inside shiold to it Meredith’s eyes widened

"Is that…?" she asked hesitantly, and Elena nodded

"It’s froht…" She felt weirdly uncomfortable "For Alaric Just in case It’s hard, when one of you ages and the other doesn’t I know, for ht choice for her at the tirow old while Stefan, by her side, stayed young and healthy, year after year

When she had drunk the water, in a roo flowers, she had been filled with joy She had chosen Stefan, and that was the moment of her proether, for eternity

But now she was alone Forever

Elena’s breath hitched She shook off the feeling It wouldn’t be like that for Meredith and Alaric

But Meredith stepped back, tucking her hands behind her back as if she was afraid to touch the bottle Her lips were parting to speak, but then Alaric came down the hall Elena could see from his face that he had overheard, after all

"Thank you," he said, and took the bottle froed them both, briefly, and left theht decision But Elena couldn’t make the choice for the, not changing The idea of living forever without Stefan hurt her, a deep sore ache that never left her for a moment If she’d known that she’d be without him, she wouldn’t have drunk the waters She would have chosen to live a norrow up, to die